Individual fire-escape



(No Model.)

H. FELLOWS.

INDIVIDUAL FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 370,612. Patented Sept. 27, 1887'.

. I I "law I I! v a I I 4 5 r I I I t u I I t I 7 Y Ev? N versus Photo-Lithographer, Waxhinglnm n.c,

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

MOSES H. FELLOWS, OF SALISBURY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

INDIVIDUAL FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,612, dated September 27, 1887.

Application filed April 30, 1887.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MosEs H. FELLows, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salis bury, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Individual Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of fireescapes adapted for use by a single individual for letting himself or herself down from a roof or window of a burning building; and the ob ject of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient, and inexpensive apparatus or device which shall placethe speed of a descent entirely in the control of the user.

The invention consists of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and is clearly set forth in the appended claims.

A spool, A, is provided, with flanges a a and journals a a. Flexible iron or steel wire Y, of the proper strength, having an end strongly and conveniently attached to the said spool, is wound thereon, (said spool should be capable of holding one hundred feet of wire,) the other end of said wire being provided with a strong hook, B, for attaching to a bedstead-a window-sill, when it is desired to drop from a window.

The journals a a are provided with some elastic friction-sleeves, G, which, when compressed, may be made to stop the rotation of the spool A, and when less pressure is applied to simply retard its movement.

A suitable stirrup, D, for the reception of either or both feet, may be provided and suspended from the yokes E, resting upon the elastic covers 0, by means of wires or cords F.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates my invention while in use by a woman in descending from the upper window of a burning building, the hands of the woman being in their proper position upon the journals of thespool, her left foot in the stirrup and her right foot being used for keeping her body the proper distance from the building. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the entire apparatus; and Fig. 3, a cross-section taken through one of the journals of the spool, its

Serial No. 236,660. (No model.)

to be in order and operative at all times. The

spool A, provided with these elastic frictionsleeves G, and the wire Y may be used independent of the stirrup and its connections very satisfactorily.

By the use of this device a person may escape from a window or roof with perfect safety, and by grasping the handle-pieces or sleeves Owith only the grip necessary to suspend and sustain the weight of ones body the descent is quite rapid; but by simply closing ones fingers around said sleeve one may go slowly or stop whenever desired during the descent.

The journals a a may be provided with circular plates or washers a a, having a small concentric hole, through which the screws 0. a, may pass and be threaded into the end of said journals. These will keep the friction-sleeves from workingoff.

. Having described my invention, what claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1sv 1. A fire escape comprising a spool having annular flanges, between which wire is wound, and a journal at either end, an elasticsleeve fitted upon either of said journals, a foot-stirrup suspended by Wires and a yoke from either K journals, as specified, the wire attached to said In testimony whereof I affix my signature in spool and wound thereon, suitable elastic presence of two witnesses. sleeves mounted upon said journals, their washers and screws, a stirrup, its suspension MOSES H. FELLOWS. 5 wires or cords and yokes, and means whereby said spool-wire may be conveniently attached Witnesses: to a building, substantially as and for the pur- J. B. THURSTON, pose set forth. NATHANIEL E. MARTIN. 

